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Credit & Copyright: Johannes Schedler
(Panther Observatory)
Explanation:
In this stunning cosmic vista,
galaxy M81 is on the left surrounded by blue spiral arms.
On the right marked by massive gas and dust clouds,
is M82.
These two mammoth galaxies have been locked in
gravitational combat
for the past billion years.
The gravity from each galaxy
dramatically affects the
other during each hundred million-year pass.
Last go-round, M82's gravity likely raised
density waves rippling around M81, resulting in the richness of
M81's
spiral arms.
But M81 left
M82 with
violent star forming regions and
colliding gas clouds so energetic the galaxy
glows
in X-rays.
In a few billion years only one galaxy
will remain.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: M 82 - M 81 - galaxies
Publications with words: M 82 - M 81 - galaxies
See also:
- APOD: 2024 April 15 Á The Cigar Galaxy from Hubble and Webb
- APOD: 2024 March 20 Á The Eyes in Markarians Galaxy Chain
- APOD: 2023 August 2 Á M82: Galaxy with a Supergalactic Wind
- Galaxy Wars: M81 and M82
- In the Heart of the Virgo Cluster
- Comet Leonard and the Whale Galaxy
- NGC 3314: When Galaxies Overlap